Washington is best known for playing
Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert to the president of the
United Stated, on the ABC drama Scandal.

GLAAD honored Washington with its
Vanguard Award, which is “presented to artists and media
professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility
and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community.”

The 38-year-old Washington told the
crowd “there is enormous power in inclusive storytelling.”

“We need more LGBT representation in
the media. We need more LGBT characters and more LGBT storytelling.
We need more diverse LGBT representation. And by that, I mean lots
of different kinds of LGBT people, living all different kinds of
lives,” she said.

Washington also criticized
African-Americans who oppose marriage equality, saying that
interracial unions once faced similar restrictions.

“So, when black people today tell me
they don't believe in gay marriage,” Washington said with a glare
that got the crowd on its feet.

I tell them, “' You know, people used
to say stuff like that about you and your love. And if we let the
government start to legislate love in our lifetime, who do you think
is next?' … We must be allies,” she added. (The video is
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